Apparatus for grouping articles



g- 1967 E. c. SHERMAN APPARATUS FOR GROUPING ARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 23, 1985 IN VENTOR. EARLE C. SHERMAN A FTORA E 1, 1957 E. c.SHERMAN 3,333,676

APPARATUS FOR GROUPING ARTICLES Filed Nov. 23, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. EA/PLE C. SHERMAN A TITORNEV BY v 'g- 1967 E. c. SHERMANAPPARATUS FOR GROUPING ARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 23, 1965INVENTOR. EARLL' C SHERMAN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,333,676APPARATUS FOR GROUPING ARTICLES Earle C. Sherman, Monroe, La., assignor,by mesne assignments, to Olinkraft, Inc., West Monroe, La., acorporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 509,405 6 Claims.(Cl. 198-34) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure teaches anapparatus for forming package units by grouping a plurality ofcontainers, inserting a partition to separate the containers one fromanother, and mechanically folding and interlocking a wrapper blank aboutthe group The disclosure teaches a novel apparatus for first separatingcontinuously moving rows of containers into groups into which apartition may be inserted and about which a wrapper blank can be foldedand interlocked to form a package unit.

In apparatus according to this invention, containers are delivered to apackaging machine in one or more rows by a continuously moving conveyor.The packaging machine comprises three main sections which may beidentified as:

(l) A grouping section in which one or more rows of containers areseparated into spaced groups of two or more containers into which apartition may be inserted. The apparatus for so grouping the containersis described in detail in this application. The apparatus for applyingpartitions to such groups is described in detail in my copendingapplication, S.N. 507,818, filed November 15, 1965 (2) A blank applyingsection in which a wrapper blank is aligned with and placed on eachgroup. Blank applying apparatus which may be used with this invention isdescribed in detail in US. Patent 3,162,488, issued Dec. 29, 1964.

(3) A folding section wherein the wrapper blank is mechanically foldedabout the group and interlocked to form a package unit. Foldingapparatus which may be used for this invention is described in detail inmy copending application, S.N. 250,434, filed Jan. 9, 1963.

Various devices are known in the prior art for separating one or moremoving rows of containers into groups. These devices take the form ofseparating plungers mounted on continuously moving chains, or stopmembers interposed at spaced intervals between moving rows of containersto hold back the rows while groups having a predetermined number ofcontainers are formed. There are certain inherent disadvantages in theknown prior art structures due to their relatively complicated designwhich makes them difficult to maintain and to adjust. The

most serious disadvantage, however, is that the lines of containersbeing delivered to the machine encounter a momentary delay while theyare grouped. The delay necessary for grouping reduces the overall speedand efiiciency of the packaging machine, since the rate at which thecontainers can be grouped determines the overall speed at which themachine can run.

This invention discloses novel mechanism for grouping containers beingfed to a packaging machine in one or more continuously moving lineswhich is simple in design, efiicient in operation, and requires nomomentary delay as the containers are grouped. The mechanism isfurthermore readily adjustable to accommodate containers being fed tothe machine in single or double rows and can be readily adjusted toprovide groups of two or more containers for each package unit.Moreover, the grouping is such that a partition may be inserted into thegroup to separate the containers one from another. It is the struc-3,333,675 Patented Aug. 1, 1967 ice ture which provides this latterfeature that forms the basis of this application, and is an improvementover US. Patent 3,194,381.

To carry out this invention, three pairs of continuous chains areadjustably mounted on opposite sides of a pair of fixed support plates.The support plates extend longitudinally of the machine and are spacedfrom each other to provide a gap between the plates of predeterminedwidth. The containers are moved in single or double rows toward thefirst support plate by conventional conveyor means and are moved ontothe plate by conveyor pressure. A first pair of chains, designatedselector chains, is mounted on opposite sides of the first supportplate. Each of the selector chains is a continuous chain traveling in afixed path around a plurality of sprockets, one of which is a drivensprocket. The path of travel of each selector chain includes a portioninclined toward the first support plate, a portion running parallel tothe plate, and a portion inclined away from the plate.

Each selector chain is provided with a plurality of lugs adapted toengage a group of containers and propel the group along the plate. Thelugs on each chain are spaced apart so that they will engage behindevery second or third container in the row, depending on the number ofcontainers desired in a package group. The selector chains thusinitially select the number of containers that will be in the packagegroup and drive these containers along as groups toward a second pair ofchains. It should be understood that the lugs on one selector chain arelaterally aligned with corresponding lugs on the other selector chain sothat the containers are engaged on both sides of the support plates. Itshould also be noted that the selector chains are driven at the samespeed as the conveyor which delivers the containers to the machine sothat there is no delay or relative movement of the containers in thetransfer from the conveyor to the selector chains.

A second pair of chains, designated intermediate spacer chains, ismounted generally forward of and above the selector chains on oppositesides of the support plates. Each of the intermediate spacer chainstravels in a continuous path around two or more sprockets, one of whichis a drive sprocket. The path of travel of each intermediate spacedchain includes a portion intersecting and aligned with a portion of thepath of travel of a corresponding selector chain so that driving lugs onan intermediate spacer chain may engage each container of the groupbeing delivered by the selector chains. Since the path of travel of theintermediate spacer chains is in a plane above the path of travel of theselector chains, it is possible to arrange for the smooth transfer ofeach container in a row from a group being driven by the selector chainsto driving engagement with a lug on an intermediate spacer chain. Theintermediate spacer chains accordingly include aligned lugs, one foreach container in a group being delivered from the selector chains. Theintermediate spacer chains are driven at a greater linear speed than theselector chains, and the lugs on the intermediate spacer chains arespaced apart a greater distance than the breadth of the container beingdriven. Accordingly, each container in a group is accelerated andseparated from an adjacent container in the same row. It is thisseparation of the containers in a group which provides for space betweenthe containers suificient for insertion of a partition, as detailed inmy copending application, S.N. 507,818, filed Nov. 15, 1965.

A third pair of chains, designated speed-up chains, is mounted generallyforward of and in a different plane than the intermediate spacer chainson opposite sides of the support plates. Each of the speed-up chainstravels in a continuous path around two or more sprockets, one of whichis a drive sprocket. The path of travel of each speedup chain includes aportion intersecting and aligned with a portion of the path of travel ofa corresponding intermediate spacer chain so that a driving lug on anintermediate spacer chain and a driving lug on a speed-up chain canengage a given container at the same point in the movement of the groupalong the support plate. Similar to the selector chainintermediatespacer chain relationship, the path of travel of the speed-up chains isin a plane different than the path of travel of the intermediate spacerchains. Thus, it is possible to arrange for the smooth transfer of agroup of spaced containers from driving engagement with lugs on theintermediate spacer chains to driving engagement with correspondingaligned lugs on the speed-up chains. The speed-up chains are driven at astill greater linear speed than the intermediate spacer chains, andinclude lugs to drive each group of containers; thus, the lugs on thespeed-up chains are spaced apart a greater distance than the lugs on theselector chains. The speed-up chains accelerate the containers as agroup so that relative movement occurs between the containers driven bythe speed-up chains and the following containers driven by theintermediate spacer chains. The containers of a group are thus allowedto become more closely associated, spaced apart only by the partitionpreviously inserted. Concurrently, the groups of containers are thusspaced from each other by the speed-up chains and the grouping of thecontainers is completed.

Each spaced group of containers is driven by the speedup chains acrossthe gap between the first and second support plates. As the group ispropelled across the gap, the path of travel of the speed-up chainsdiverges away from the support plates and the lugs of the speed-upchains disengage from the group. At this point a flight bar extendingtransversely across the path of travel of the containers moves into thespace between two spaced groups of containers and engages behind thefirst group to propel the group through the succeeding stations of themachine. The flight bars are arranged so that there is a flight barready to engage each group of containers as it is disengaged by thespeed-up chains.

These and other features of this invention will now be described indetail with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional side view of a portion of the machine abovedescribed;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the grouping section of themachine of this invention in detail; and,

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view showing the details of the grouping sectionof the machine of this invention.

The packaging machine of this invention comprises three main sections,portions of which are shown in FIGURE 1 as a grouping section (A), ablank applying section (B), and a folding section (C).

The grouping section of this invention is shown in FIGURE 2 as beingmounted on the base, generally indicated 1, of a packaging machine atthe rear end thereof. Containers are delivered in one or more rows tothe machine by a conventional conveyor, generally indicated 2. Thecontainers are moved by the conveyor 2 onto a first rigid plate 3, theplate 3 including if so desired a divider bar B to space the rows ofcontainers one from another. A second rigid plate 4 is mounted on frame1 forward of plate 3 and is spaced from plate 3 to provide a gap 5between the plates. (Note FIGURE 3.) Plate 4 extends forwardly beyondthe grouping section, into the blank applying section B and on into thefolding section C of the machine. (Note FIGURE 1.)

Extending transversely across base 1 are a plurality of support members6. Slidably mounted on the support members on opposite sides of rigidplate 3 are a pair of support plates 7 and 8. Each of the support plates7 and 8 is movable into partial overlapping relation with rigid plate 3.

The adjustable mounting of the support plates allows the groupingapparatus to be moved toward and away from rigid plate 3 in order toaccommodate a single row of containers or a double row of containersmoving into the grouping section of the machine.

The grouping apparatus in general includes three pairs of chains, now tobe described in detail. Since the grouping apparatus on one side of therigid plate 3 is identical to the grouping apparatus on the oppositeside of the rigid plate, it will only be necessary to describe theapparatus on one side in detail.

Selector chains A first pair of chains generally indicated 9 and 10,designated selector chains, is mounted on opposite sides of rigid plate3. Chain 9 is a continuous chain mounted for movement in a fixed pathabout a plurality of sprockets. The sprockets include idler sprockets11, 12 and 13 and a drive sprocket 14. (Note FIGURE 2.) Sprockets 11,12, 13 and 14 are mounted on shafts 15, 16, 17 and 18, respectively.Each of the shafts is mounted on support plate 7 in a conventionalmanner.

Chain 9 is provided with a plurality of drive lugs 19 spaced apredetermined distance apart. The lugs are arranged to engage behind thelast container of a predetermined number of containers to drive thecontainers as a group along rigid plate 3. The lugs 19 on chain 9initially select the number of containers which will constitute thepackage unit. The number of containers in the group can be adjustedmerely by adjusting the spacing of lugs 19. t

. Chain 9 is mounted so that a portion 20 of the chain converges towardrigid plate 3. This allows lugs 19 to be smoothly interposed behind thelast container of the selected group to drive that particular groupalong rigid plate 3. A second portion 21 of chain 9 runs parallel torigid plate 3. A third portion 22 of chain 9 diverges away from rigidplate 3 so that the driving lugs on the chain can be smoothly disengagedfrom the containers.

It should be noted at this point that chain 9 is driven at the samespeed as conveyor 2, so that no relative movement occurs between thecontainers driven onto the plate by the conveyor 2 and those beingdriven by the lugs on chain 9. There is continuous uninterruptedmovement of the containers along rigid plate 3.

Intermediate spacer chains A second pair of chains generally indicated109 and 110, designated intermediate spacer chains, is mounted generallyforward of selector chains 9 and 10 on opposite sides of the rigidplates 3 and 4. Intermediate spacer chain rigid plate 3, a portion 132running parallel to rigid plate 3, and a portion 133 diverging away fromrigid plate 3 to facilitate the entry, driving engagement, anddisengagement of the lugs 119 with the containers in a manner similar tochain 9. However, the lugs 109 are such in number and spacing as toengage each of the containers of the group being driven by lugs 19, forreasons to become apparent shortly. Thus, as the leading container of agroup on chain 9 approaches sprocket 115, a lug 119 engages suchcontainer, this process being repeated for each container in the groupuntil a lug 119 coincides with a lug 19 behind the last container of agroup. This arrangement allows the smooth transfer of the containersfrom selector chain 9 to intermediate spacer chain 119.

Chain 119 is driven at a higher speed than selector chain 9. Thedifference in speed of the chains produces relative movement betweenthose containers driven by the selector chain 9 and those driven by theintermediate spacer chain 119. The relative movement causes a space todevelop between each of the containers and separates them apredetermined distance. To compensate for the relative movement of thecontainers, the driving lugs 119 on the intermediate spacer chain arespaced apart a greater distance than the driving lugs 19 on the selectorchains.

It is at this point that the partition discussed hereinbefore isinserted. Employing apparatus such as that disclosed in my copendingapplication S.N. 507,818, filed Nov. 15, 1965, a partition may beinserted into the space between the containers provided by theintermediate spacer chains 119, it being evident that space between therows of containers is provided by the divider bar B. The insertedpartition, indicated as P, is then free to travel along with the groupof containers in which it is inserted.

Speed-up chains A third pair of chains generally indicated 23 and 24,designated speed-up chains, is mounted generally forward of intermediatespacer chains 109 and 110 on opposite sides of the rigid plates 3 and 4.Speed-up chain 23 is a continuous chain mounted on a pair of sprockets25 and 26. Sprocket 26 is mounted on shaft 17 along with, but in adifferent plane than, sprocket 113 of intermediate spacer chain 109.While the sprocket 26 may be mounted below sprocket 113, it is hereillustrated as being above. Sprocket 25 is a drive sprocket mounted on avertically extending shaft 27. Vertical shaft 27 depends from a miterbox 27A mounted on a support member 28 which extends transversely acrossthe machine above rigid plate 4. A horizontal drive shaft 29 mounted ontop of support member 28 is connected by conventional gear means mountedin miter box 27A to vertical shaft 27. Vertical shaft 27 is adjustablymounted relative to support 28 so that sprocket 25 can be adjustedlaterally along with the sprockets mounted on support plate 7. Theadjustable mounting includes a plurality of slots in support plate 28and an adjustable sleeve 29A for shaft 29.

Speed-up chain 23 is provided with drive lugs 30 adapted to engage agroup of containers in a manner similar to drive lugs 19 on chain 9.Chain 23 includes a portion 31 converging towards rigid plate 3, aportion 32 running. parallel to rigid plate 3 and a portion 33 divergingaway from rigid plate 3 to facilitate the entry, driving engagement, anddisengagement of the lugs 30 with the containers in the same manner aschain 9. The chain 23 is arranged relative to the chain 109 such that alug 30 on the chain 23 engages a group of containers being delivered bychain 119. Thus, the containers of a group selected by the selectorchain 9 are first separated by the intermediate spacer chain 119 forinsertion of a partition. As the leading container of a group isdisengaged from chain 119, its motion ceases until a following containermoves forward and forces the leading container forward. This process isrepeated for each container until the last, when a lug 30 on thespeed-up chain 23 coincides with a lug 119 on the intermediate spacerchain lug behind the last container of a group. This arrangement allowsthe smooth transfer of the containers from intermediate spacer chain 109to speed-up chain 23, and also serves to decrease the space betweenadjacent containers created by the intermediate spacer chain 109. Sincethe partition is in place, such space is no longer required, and the containers may again be driven along as a group.

Speedup chain 23 is driven at a higher speed than intermediate spacerchain 109. The difference in speed of the chains produces relativemovement between those containers driven by the intermediate spacerchain 109 and those driven by the speed-up chain. The relative movementcauses a space to develop between adjacent groups of containers beingdelivered by the intermediate spacer chain 109 and separates them intothe groups which will comprise the package units. To compensate for therelative movement of the containers, the driving lugs 30 Subsequentoperations The spaced groups of containers are driven by speed-up chains23 and 24 across the gap 5 between rigid plates 3 and 4. As a givengroup of containers is driven across gap 5 it is disengaged by the lugsof the speed-up chains as they diverge away from the containers.

Coincident with the disengagement of the containers by lugs 30, thecontainers are engaged by a flight bar 40 which drives the containersspaced groups through the succeeding sections of the machine.

Flight bars 40 are disposed transversely of the machine and travel in acontinuous path which extends above and below rigid plate 4. (NoteFIGURE 1.) The flight bars are mounted between a pair of laterallyspaced continuous flight chains 41 and 42. Flight chain 41 is mounted ona plurality of sprockets 43, 44 and 45 which are in turn mounted onshafts 47, 48 and 49 journalled in the side frames of the machine.Sprockets 44 and 45 are shown in FIGURE 2. Sprocket 43 is not shown.Flight chain 42 is mounted on a plurality of sprockets 43', 44' and 45'which are also mounted on shafts 47, 48 and 49 respectively. (NoteFIGURE 1.) As is apparent from FIGURE 1 of the drawings each flight bar40 travels in a continuous path around rigid plate 4. The spacing andspeed of the flight bars is arranged so that a flight bar moves upthrough gap 5 into engagement with a group of containers just as thecontainers are released by the lugs of the speed-up chains. The flightbar propels the grouped containers through the blank applying section Band through the folding section C of the machine.

The flight bars 40 drive the group of containers at the same speed asthey leave the speed-up chains 23 and 24. Thus there is no relativemovement between the groups of containers leaving the speed-up chainsand those groups of containers being driven by the flight bars. Theflight bars are positioned to maintain the spacing'between the groups ofcontainers.

Power system The flight bars and all the chains previously discussed aredriven from a common power source 60 by an arrangement of sprockets andchains which will now be described. By driving these elements through acommon power source the problem of coordinating the relative speed ofthese elements is minimized since the speed of a single drive motor isconstant, whereas in those arragements where several drive motors areused the relative speed of the drives varies and poses a coordinatingproblem.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, electric motor 60 is connected to shaft 47 bymeans of chain 61 and a sprocket 62 which is mounted adjacent sprocket43. Shaft 47 in turn drives flight chains 41 and 42. Flight chains 41and 42 drive shafts 48 and 49 through their respective sprockets asshown in FIGURE 1. A sprocket (not shown) is mounted on shaft 49adjacent sprocket 45 and is connected to a sprocket 50 on shaft 29 bymeans of chain 51. (Note FIGURE 2.) Shaft 29 drives shaft 27 through thegears (not shown) in miter box 27A. Once again only the drivingarrangement of the speed-up chain and selector chain on one side of therigid plates will be described, it being apparent that the drive on theother side of the rigid plates through the other miter box 27B isidentical in operation. Shaft 27 drives sprocket 25 which drivesspeed-up chain 23. The speed-up chain 23 drives sprocket 26 which iskeyed to shaft 117. Shaft 117 mounts idler sprocket 113 which is free torotate relative to the shaft. Keyed to shaft 117 below plate 7 isanother sprocket 152. (Note FIGURE 2.) Sprocket 152 drives shaft 118through sprocket 153 and drive chain 154. Shaft 118 has keyed theretosprocket 114 which drives the intermediate spacer chain 109, which ismounted on drive sprocket 114, idler sprocket 113, and sprocket 115keyed to shaft 17.

Similar to the relationship for the intermediate spacer chain asdescribed above, shaft 17 mounts idler sprocket 13 which is free torotate relative to the shaft. Keyed to shaft 17 below plate 7 is anothersprocket 52, which drives shaft 18 through sprocket 53 and drive chain54. Shaft 18 has keyed thereto abovethe plate 7 sprocket 14 which drivesthe selector chain 9, which is mounted on drive sprocket 14 and idlersprockets 11, 12 and 13.

By the arrangement of chains above described, it is possible throughappropriate design of the sprocket sizes to have the selector chains,intermediate spacer chains, speed-up chains, and flight bars driven atpredetermined different relative speeds from the same power source,motor 60.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to theillustrations described and shown herein which are deemed to be merelyillustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and whichare susceptible of modifications of form, size, arrangement of parts anddetail of operation, but rather is intended to encompass all suchmodifications which are Within the spirit and scope of the invention asset forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for separating continuously moving rows of containers intogroups of containers, comprising: container supporting plate,

(A) a first pair of selector means mounted for continuous movement in ahorizontal plane above and on opposite sides of said plate,

(B) first lug means oneach of said first pair of selecetor means adaptedto engage a plurality of said containers defining a group and to propelsaid group along said plate,

(C) a second pair of spacer means mounted for continuous movement in ahorizontal plane generally forward of said first pair of selector means,

(D) second lug means on each of said second pair of spacer means adaptedto engage each of said containers of said group and to propel each ofsaid containers along said plate, said second lug means being mountedon' each of said second pair of spacer means a greater distance apartthan the breadth of one of said containers,

(E) common drive means adapted to drive said second pair of spacer meansat a greater speed than said first pair of selector means to providespaced intervals between said containers,

(F) a third pair of speed-up means mounted for continuous movement in ahorizontal plane generally forward of said second pair of spacer means,

(G) third lug means mounted on each of said third pair of speed-up meansadapted to engage said group andpropel said group along said plate, saidthird lug means being spaced apart a greater distance than the lug meanson each of said first pair of selector means, and

(H) common drive means adapted to drive said third pair of speed-upmeans at a greater speed than said second pair of selector means.

2. Grouping apparatus comprising:

(A) a rigid plate,

(B) conveyor means delivering containers in rows to :said plate,

,(C) selector means mounting first spaced drive lugs for continuousmovement in fixed horizontal paths on opposed. sides of said plate, saidfirst drive lugs being spaced to engage a plurality of containers in arow defining a group of containers,

(D) spacer means mounting second spaced drive lugs for continuousmovement in fixed horizontal paths on opposite sides of said rigidplate, said second lugs and second drive lugs intersecting at a commonpoint to effect the transfer of each of the containers in said groupfrom said first drive lugs to said second drive lugs, said second drivelugs being spaced from each other a distance greater than the breadth ofeach of said containers,

(E) common drive means propelling said spacer means at a greater linearspeed than said selector means,

(F) speed-up means mounting third spaced drive lugs for continuousmovement in fixed horizontal paths on opposite sides of said rigidplate, said third drive lugs being spaced to engage said group, thepaths of movement of said second drive lugs and said third drive lugsintersecting at a common point to efiect the transfer of said group fromsaid second drive lugs to said third drive lugs, said third drive lugsbeing spaced from each other a greater distance than said first drivelugs, and

(G) common drive means propelling said speed-up means at a greaterlinear speed than said' spacer means.

3. Apparatus for grouping rows of containers being delivered onto arigid plate by a conveyor comprising: a container supporting plate,

(A) a pair of selector chains,

(B) sprocket means mounting each of said selector chains for movement ina continuous horizontal path above and on opposite sides of said plate,

(C) lug means on each of said selector chains arranged to engage behinda group of containers on said plate to drive said group a predetermineddistance along said plate and to disengage from said containers,

(D) a pair of spacer chains,

(E) sprocket means mounting each of said spacer chains on opposite sidesof said plate for movement in a continuous horizontal path,

(F) lug means on each of said spacer chains arranged to engage behindeach of the containers in said group as they are disengaged by saidselector chains to drive said containers a predetermined distance alongsaid plate and to disengage from each of said con spacer chains beingeifective to arrange said containers into groups having a predeterminednumberof spaced containers in each group, (H) a pair of speed-up chains,(I) sprocket means mounting on opposite sides of said plate, 7 (J) lugmeans on each of said speed-up chains arranged to engage behind saidgroup as the containers of said group are disengaged by said spacerchains, said drive lugs on each of said speed-up chains being spacedapart a greater distance than said lugs on each of said selector chains,and

(K) means driving said speed-up chains at a greater linear speed thansaid spacer chains, the difference in speed and lug spacing of saidspeed-up chains and spacer chains being efiective to arrange saidcontainers into spaced groups having a predetermined number ofcontainers in each group.

4. Apparatus for separating continuously moving rows of objects intopackage groups comprising: a container supporting plate,

(A) first conveyor means continuously moving rows of objects forwardonto said plate,

each of said selector chains for movement in a continuous horizontalpath (B) a first pair of laterally spaced selector means having lugmeans thereon adapted to engage a group of said objects at spaceddiametrically opposed intervals and to propel said group along saidplate,

(C) a second pair of laterally spaced intermediate spacer means havinglug means thereon adapted to engage and propel each object in said groupalong said plate, said lug means on each of said intermediate spacermeans being spaced apart a distance greater than the breadth of eachobject in a row,

with a plurality of drive lugs spaced apart a distance greater than thedrive lugs on each of said selector chains, (3) the path of movement ofeach of said speed- 5 up chains including,

(a) a portion converging toward said plates, (b) a portion runningparallel to said plates,

and (c) a portion diverging away from said plates, the paths of movementof said speed- (D) means driving said second pair of intermediate upchains and said spacer chains interspacer means at a greater speed thansaid first pair secting at a common point so that as a of selector meansto accelerate the objects in a group, drive lug on said spacer chainsdisengages the difference in speed and the spacing of the lugs of saidgroup of containers a drive lug on said second pair of intermediatespacer means being said speed-up chains will engage said group,elfecetive to create a space between adjacent objects (B) common drivemeans propelling said speed-up in a row of said group, said space beingsufllcient chains at a greater speed than said spacer chains to forinsertion of a partition therein, accelerate the groups of containersbeing driven by (E) a third pair of laterally spaced speed-up means thespacer chains, the difference in spacing of the having lug means thereonadapted to engage and drive lugs on the speed-up chains and the spacerpropel said group along said plate, said lug means chains and thedifference in speed of the spacer on each of said third pair of speed-upmeans being chains and speed-up chains being effective to arrange spaceda greater distance apart than the lug means the containers into spacedgroups having a preon each of said first pair of selector means,determined number of containers separated by a (F) means driving saidthird pair of Speed-up means distance less than said predetermineddistance,

at a greater speed than said second pair of intermedi- (C) a secondcontainer supporting plate mounted genate spacer means, the differencein speed and the erally forward of said first container supporting platespacing of said lug means on said third pair of and spaced therefrom,speed-up means being elfective to decrease the space (D) conveyor meansadapted to pass through the space between adjacent objects in a row ofsaid group between said first and said second plates to engage and toaccelerate said groups as spaced package said groups of containers asthey are disengaged by groups each containing a predetermined number ofth drive lu s on aid speed-up chains, units.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including second con- References Cited veyormeans adapted to engage in the space between UNITED STATES PATENTS saidgroups to drive the groups beyond said third pair of speed-up means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 further including (A) -a pair ofspeed-up chains,

( 1) adjustable sprocket means mounting each of said speed-up chains formovement in a fixed path generally above and forward of said spacerchains,

(2) each of said speed-up chains being provided 6/1965 Dardaine 198-76 X7/1965 Sherman 198-34 EVON C. BLUNG, Primary Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING ROWS OF CONTAINERS INTOGROUPS OF CONTAINERS, COMPRISING: CONTAINER SUPPORTING PLATE, (A) AFIRST PAIR OF SELECTOR MEANS MOUNTED FOR CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT IN AHORIZONTAL PLANE ABOVE AND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PLATE, (B) FIRSTLUG MEANS ON EACH OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF SELECTOR MEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGEA PLURALITY OF SAID CONTAINERS DEFINING A GROUP AND TO PROPEL SAID GROUPALONG SAID PLATE, (C) A SECOND PAIR OF SPACER MEANS MOUNTED FORCONTINUOUS MOVEMENT IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE GENERALLY FORWARD OF SAIDFIRST PAIR OF SELECTOR MEANS, (D) SECOND LUG MEANS ON EACH OF SAIDSECOND PAIR OF SPACER MEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS OFSAID GROUP AND TO PROPEL EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS ALONG SAID PLATE, SAIDSECOND LUG MEANS BEING MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF SPACERMEANS A GREATER DISTANCE APART THAN THE BREADTH OF ONE OF SAIDCONTAINERS,